| Osmose Inc., the premier supplier of wood preservative technologies, and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a third-party certification services and standards development company, today announced that Osmose's MicroPro technology has been certified by SCS as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP). MicroPro is the first and only wood preservative technology in the world to receive this rigorous certification.
Unlike current copper-based wood preservatives, the MicroPro technology system does not use organic solvents to dissolve the copper component. Instead, the MicroPro system utilizes patent pending micronizing technology to grind copper particles so small that they can penetrate into the wood in solid form. Wood products treated with the MicroPro preservative system, when compared to current copper-based wood treatments, offer consumer benefits of low corrosion to metal fasteners, approval for aluminum contact, and better painting and staining qualities because of the wood's lighter color.
The unique MicroPro production process results in the reduction of an estimated 20,000 tons or more of greenhouse gas emissions each year, based on annual production levels. (This is equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 2,200 SUV's.) The MicroPro formulation requires fewer trucks to transport the preservative when compared to other wood treatment products. Fewer trucks means reduced pollutants from tailpipe emissions, and as a result, reduced contribution to acid rain, smog, soot, and oceanic acidification.
Paul Goydan, President of Osmose, Inc., stated, "The EPP certification by SCS further highlights the MicroPro technology's unique and important consumer benefits. Having EPP-certified pressure treated wood products available is a positive step forward for our industry, retailers, builders, and consumers who are increasingly demanding building materials that are certified for their environmental excellence."
EPP guidelines published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require that such products have reduced impacts on human health and the environment when compared to other products that serve the same purpose.
Stan Rhodes, SCS President, stated, "In conducting this certification, SCS examined a broad range of potential environmental impacts. The new MicroPro wood preservative system from Osmose has set a new benchmark of environmental performance for wood preservatives."
Geoff Brown, President of The Lumber Yard, stated, "We were one of the first in our market to introduce the MicroPro technology and the response has been tremendous. Our home building and contractor customers are asking us more and more to provide them with green building material products and with the new EPP certification for our MicroPro treated wood products, we can now fulfill these green product requests."
MicroPro treated lumber is currently available in over 2,400 home centers and lumberyards in the United States and is currently produced by 54 wood treating companies.
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